Help,
I have a 40+ year old Bamboo fly rod that a costumer would like me to restore.
It will not be fished with afterwords.
I have never worked with Bamboo and would like any help out there.
What should I use on the bamboo after I get the varnish or shellac off?
Do I use the same on the wraps?
Oh ,don't forget to clue me in on how to get the tiptop off without breaking this womens late grandfathers favorite rod.
Mike

If the rod is that old, it most likely has old style "ferrule" or hot helt cement holding the tip top on. Heat will break the bond. Just don't overdo it, the same as you wouldn't on any graphite rod. Too much heat isn't good for any rod.

You can refinish the blank in any number of ways. There are many good varnishes available. Even Permagloss, which I believe U-40 originally developed as a new, tougher but traditional looking bamboo rod finish, would be a good choice. Most bamboo builders apply their finish (blank and guide wraps, all at one time) by the use of a "dip tube." You may find that to be a lot of trouble for just this one rod. So, consider applying the varnish or urethane by a long swipe with a foam type paintbrush/applicator. This works very well for a smooth, gloss finish. Let dry, then wrap he guides and use the same varnish or urethane to coat your wraps, in the same manner that you might apply epoxy to the wraps on a graphite or glass rod.

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First suggestion is to pick up a copy of Michael Sinclair's book on bamboo rods. I think the title is Bamboo Rod Restoration Handbook. This book will take you through the various steps in refinishing a rod. There are also some websites with step by step instructions. The classic finish on most rods was spar varnish. The same varnish was used on the wraps as on the rod. Before you remove the old varnish, check out information on polishing varnish. Sometimes if the varnish is not too bad, you can smooth it out through the process called polishing the varnish. This involves using a mild abrasive like rotten stone in a lubricant solution to soften the varnish and smooth it out. To remove the tip you will need an alcohol lamp, this is a lower temperature flame than most heat sources you might have. Simply hold the tip in the flame from the alcohol lamp. Never allow the flame to contact the bamboo. Slowly rotate the tip in the flame for 10 seconds, then try to pull the tip off with hot pad. It will normally take several exposures to 10 seconds of flame before the tip will come loose. Do not try to heat the tip too fast. If the bamboo inside the tip becomes overheated it will literally explode. Not a big explosion, but will ruin the bamboo inside the tip. If you do decide to remove the varnish, do not sand or scrape the rod. This can damage the bamboo. Michael Sinclair recommends using 3M Brand Saf-T-Stripper. I have used it on dozens of bamboo rods and have never damaged the glue that holds the rod together as other chemical strippers can do. Good luck.